The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-10-19
ONLY AN AMATEUR.
How He Played the Part of an
Organ Grinder.

Organ Grinder.
The organ man at the gate had beer
grinding away at the popular tune:
which filled his music-box, and lief
room for running accompaniment o.
grunt and groan. for full fifteen min
utcs All the nurses, and all the
children under their charge, had
CAPPED over the fence, and thrown him
plentiful largess of small change. and
pitiful boarders of larger growth
had tmow sundry five-cent pieces
from upper windows; now the head OF
the house, hard at work in the kitchen
as she usually was, did the same.
"Some won't encourage 'em," she
said to Sally, her acknowledgement
"but l say they help boarders to keel
lively; and if your summer boardel
gets low-sperited you're apt to lose
her; so take the beef the folks have
left on their plates, warm it on the
grid-iron, and put it on a clean plate,
with hot potatoes and turnips-ihere's
enough of that on the plates, too.
What the eye don't see the heart don't
grieve for, and don't believe an Eye.
Italian furriner would care anyway Ell
he did know"
And Sally, obedient to tho behest
called to the grinder to Come in.'
While he was feeding within young
Mortimer came back from fishing.
He was, in the city, as regularly fash
ionable as any one else, but out
amongst the mountains he elected to
live in red shirt and knickerbockers,
n great tisherman's hat, and big
leather belt, in which he presented
some thing the appearance of a theat-
rical bandit being dark, handsome,
and romantic-looking. He put down
his rod and the small string of brook
trout he had brought home with him,
within the gate, and went back again
to look at the brown box the organ
grinder had left outside.
"Why, it's an organ" he exclaimed;
"and all my life I've desired to grind
an organ. 1t seems such comforta-
BILE, easy way of making music.
never had an opportunity before.
Here goes"
And placing the instrument in the
proper position, he began to turn the
crank in excellent time, looking up
at the house out of the corners of his
eyes in the most professional manner,
and carrying out the idea by his cos
tune. He expected some of the more
youthful boarders to appear, and to
get a little fun out of his organ-play-
ing, but the young ladies were gone
up the mountains in their short dresses,
and with their alpenstocks; the chill
dren were adoring the monkey in the
kitchen, and the older people, think
Ing that the legitimate grinder had
resumed his labors, took care not to
look out lest they should awaken ex-
pectations Of second relay of FIVE
cent pieces. Therefore Mr.. Mortimer
sauntered up and down the road, hitch
ing his organ along, and singing the
words of the popular songs without
effect, until Miss Parker, from the
house on the hill, turned the corner in
her new red and gold cart" and driv-
ing very FESTIVE little horse.
Whether the horse did not like pop
uiar tunes, or hated Italians, or
thought the organ was about to attack
him, did not appear; but as soon as
the figure OF Mortimer and the music
box attracted his attenti ,n, he made an
instantaneous photograph of himself
AID paved the air with his fore legs.
Miss Parker used her whip and lifted
her voice, and Mortimer, casting the
organ strap from his shoulder, did the
best man could do under the circum-
stances; so that before the animal
reached the foot of the lane, she was
safe once more
Saved. as she said to herself, .by
THIS beautiful. graceful, elegant organ
grinder, who certainly must be an
Italian prince in disguise"
Now Miss Parker had not been at
boarding school and had the advan-
tages of modern travel for nothing; she
knew Italian and as soon as she
caught her breath she aired it for tn e
organ grinders benefit.
"signor.' she said, politely. show
can | thank you for saving my life?"
"Ah, an Italian lady, l suppose"
thought Mortimer-an Italian never
would have supposed it for a moment
and he instantly replied in the same
language:
'Slgnorina, that I have done so,ue-
lhing to spare You alarm makes me-